c1904 ARCHIVE OF HAND DRAWN WATER-COLOR ART WITH HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT NOTES BY FAMED TRAVEL AUTHOR AND ARTIST OF INCA RUINS AND PERUVIAN VIEWS
669On offer is an exceptional archive of art circa 1904-1905, by Charles Reginald (C.R.) Enock (BIO NOTES below listing). Enock lived and traveled in Peru for four years and wrote extensively on the country, analyzing it from many social and scientific perspectives. He wrote and published two full- length books focused solely on Peru: The Andes and the Amazon: Life and Travel in Peru (1907) and Peru: Its Former and Present Civilisation History and Existing Conditions Geography and Natural Resources Commerce and General Development (1908). He also incorporated his vast knowledge and learned opinions on Peru in later books that focused more broadly on the Pacific coast region.
In 1909, Enock published:
- The Great Pacific Coast, Twelve Thousand Miles in the Golden West: Being an Account of Life and Travel in the Western States of North and South America, from California. British Columbia, and Alaska: to Mexico, Panama, Peru and Chile; and a Study of Their Physical and Political Conditions.
- In 1912 Enock published The Secret of the Pacific; a Discussion of the Origin of the Early Civilisations of America, the Toltecs, Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, and Their Predecessors; and of the Possibilities of Asiatic Influence Thereon
- In 1913 Enock published The Republics of Central And South America, Their Resources, Industries, Sociology And Future.
Enock put a similar critical social science lens to his work on Peru as he did to England, the United States, and every other country he studied. An example of his analysis of Peru comes from a news article on Enock’s time there. The Time (March 27, 1913), reported that Enock observed, “evidence of Indians having been ill-treated in order to make them work”. Enock’s recommendation was that a government-funded “national institution should be established” with the goal of “developing the tropical regions within and without the British Empire...[with] the power to exercise a censorship of prospectuses proposed to be issued by companies which would exploit native labour...”. He argued that this would protect both British investors, native labourers and the environment. Enock’s grand ideas for social reform can be traced throughout his body of work.
This particular offering is a collection of 12 quite stunning pieces of art reflecting locations visited by Enock in Peru and drawn by Enock. Some were drawn ‘on the spot’ during his travels and some were copied by Enock from photographs. The collection also includes three photographs (two with handwritten annotations by Enock), and a map published by the Royal Geographical Society, showing the route Enock traveled through Peru.
The hand-drawn and painted images were intended for publication in Enock’s books about Peru, and many of them were published (details below). For example, one ink-drawn image included in the collection is titled “Fig. V, Huanuco Viejo”. On the verso, Enock notes: “ Huanuco Viejo - one of the doorways to the Palace” he has noted the intention for the image to appear on “P230” in “Andes”. There is a printed version of this same image included that indicates “182”. The image does, in fact, appear on p. 182 of Enock’s books, The Andes & The Amazon and The Secret of the Pacific.
Two larger pieces of Enock’s art have more extensive manuscript notes on the verso in Enock’s hand, such as his notes on a painting of the ruined Inca palace and the town of Huanuco Viejo:
“Ruined Inca Palace and Town of Huanuco Viejo in the Andes of Peru above the River Maranon 11,880 ft above sea level sketched on the spot by C.R. Enock F.R.G.S...It is to be [recorded?] that there was a pre-Inca culture in Peru which has left [?] others the astonishing ruins of Tiahuanacco not far from Titicaca. Perhaps contemporaneous with Babylonia, and a world mystery of origin”.
Another hand drawn and painted image with significant manuscript notes on the back reads:
“There were great rejoicings by the people when “Inti” the sun god sat down on the column. In the circular columns of old arose a slender stone column whose shadow determined the dale falling on a tine. The Inca priest had developed this astronomical knowledge. Note the beauty of the stonework. [Ancient Peru: Ruins of Intihuatana where the Incas priest determined the solstices]”.
Most of the other manuscript notes are simply descriptions of the images, written in Enock’s hand on the back of the image. For example, one painting’s note reads,“Peru: Ruins of Inca Fortress Sunset and Moonlight. The big monoliths as seen”. Another one reads, “Lake Titicaca Peru Indians “Beehive” house”.
The following is a list of of hand-drawn art and annotated photographs which are included in this collection that were found published in Enock’s work:
- Ruins of the Huanuco Viejo: The Inca Baths (p. 234) - The Andes & The Amazon
- Summit of the Andes: An Inca Pass (p. 239) - The Andes & The Amazon
- Ruins of Intihuatana and Pisac, Southern Peru; Where the Incas Determined the Solstices: Drawn from a Photo (p. 168) - The Secret of the Pacific
- Huanuco Viejo, Doorway to Inca Palace (p. 182) - The Andes & The Amazon and The Secret of the Pacific
- Photograph: Part of the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, and Quechua Natives (p. 234) - The Secret of the Pacific & (p. 400) - The Tropics
Taken together, this art and Enock’s notes help the observer to see the world through Enock’s eyes. Enock took a broad view of the countries he studied. Chapter titles in his books demonstrate the diversity of his discourse. Some chapter titles from his books include, “Political Administrations and Divisions”, “Social System; Inhabitants; Environments”, “Mineral Wealth”, “Colonisation, Commerce, Railways”, “and so many more. His images of Peru support his work on the country, which he wrote about in isolation and when comparing it to other countries he studied and visited.
The hand-drawn/painted art is mostly on hard cardstock and in very good condition. The photographs, the one printed page and the map are on paper and exhibit some expected bends and creases. No significant ripping, tearing or complications noted. Some of the handwritten descriptions of the hand-drawn art are written in slightly faded pencil; most are in black ink. All notes are legible. Enock signed many of the pieces of art and all handwriting is clearly in his hand. Overall G++.
Charles Reginald (C.R.) Enock, F.R.G.S. (1868-1970) was one of nine children born in England to parents Lavinia (Hollis) Enock and Arthur Enock. In 1889, while living and working in Mexico, he married a Mexican woman named Concha Lavin. In 1901 they married again in Devon, UK. They had two children, Enid and Consuelo. Enock was a Royal Society of Arts medalist, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a member of the Society of Engineers. Following his education and articleship in civil engineering (under Mr. William Hale), Enock travelled frequently. He spent three years in America looking at railway construction, six years in Mexico looking at natural resources and mining, and four years in Peru. He lectured extensively and authored many books about his observations and theories derived from his travel experience. At one point, Enock was leader of a political party he called the “New National Party” (he was never elected to any political office). Enock felt his life’s work was “a mission to show how the world has been brought to a chaotic state by indiscriminate commercialism and to set it right again”. All of Enock's ideas were based on his observations of social issues abroad. For example, his travels in the USA inspired him to write a book that was, “...a survey of life in the United States, considered in the light of present social evolution...” (Enock, 1910, vii). As a British scientist, Enock was always concerned with how his learnings could influence social change Britain: “The study of Democracy, its virtues and defects, is much before the world at the present time; and America is working out problems whose teachings are of great value to Britain” (Enock, 1910, vii). Enock was a devout Christian. He was a believer in working toward a communal solution to the woes of modern society. in his 1910 book, An Imperial Commonwealth, he argues that “it is time that ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’ - that is to say, the great burden-bearing people...The civilisation which would endure will be that which demands a certain standard of life for all its people” and he argued for a National Minimum in Britain. He lived in poverty, using all his money to print pamphlets and try to get the word out on his ideas. He published details about his “Truth Campaign” in these pamphlets. He argued that by creating “economic areas” and “economic neighbourhoods” industry would become embedded into the social fabric of each community, which he believed would “render us independent of Capitalism and currencies– greatest achievements, and not Socialism. Poverty, unemployment and wage-slavery will disappear” (C.R. Enock, self-published, n.d.; Portsmouth Community News, 1935). He was once described by a family member, Joan Enock, as “a dear, very kind, but a pompous ass”.
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